The First Reform Act of 1832 was one of the most important changes in the history of British politics. It was necessary because the electoral system had remained virtually unchanged since the late 1680’s, while the country’s economy, class system, and political methods had changed immeasurably in that time.
The Industrial Revolution had created a new economy and caused the emergence of new cities such as Manchester and Birmingham, where the new factories were centred. However, according to the old electoral system of 1682, these new towns had no political representation.
Moreover, the vote was only open to landowners, meaning that almost 95 percent of the population had no say in political matters. The vote was done in an open vote, a process that led to corruption.
When the Whigs came to power in 1829, they were aware of the level of discontent in the country as a whole, and wanted to enact a moderate reform that would make the system fairer. So, the First Reform Act was passed in which six small boroughs lost both their seats, and another thirty lost a seat each. The seats gained in this way were redistributed among the new boroughs. In addition to landlords, leaseholders and householders paying more than a minimum specified amount were also eligible to vote. As a result, more people got the right to vote.